Paper-sheet self-feeding device for printing-machines.



v J. H. HASIINGS. PAPER SHEET SELF FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1911.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPN 60., WASHINGTON. D. c.

J. H. HASTINGS. PAPER SHEET SELF FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 23, 1911.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGIAI'N c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

- tor.

JAMES HAROLD HASTINGS, OF 'YOKOHAMA, JAPAN.

PAPER-SHEET SELF-FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 23, 1911.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913. Serial No. 634,918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES HAROLD HAS- TINGS, a subject of the King ofEngland, residing at Yokohama, Japan, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Paper Sheet Self Feeding Devices forPrinting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention particularly relates to improvements in paper-sheetself-feeding devices for printing machines or duplicators and the likeand especially refers to the type of machine known as the Crown duplica-The principles of the invention are nevertheless applicable to otherdevices in which there is necessity for the periodical feeding forwardof paper sheets for further treatment.

The object of the invention is to bring about a rapid, accurate,self-feeding of the paper to machines of the type described.

In duplicators of the kind hitherto constructed are provided a platen ordrum sup ported on side frames and a roller coopcrating with the drum toperform the printing, one of the supports of the roller being alwayspulled up by a helical spring and pushed down by cams attached to thedrum shaft, whereby the drum is pressed upon by the roller only when thepaper is to be printed. The roller is disengaged from the drum by thecams when the printing is finished.

It will be seen that if a paper sheet is held by its edges and the edgesthen pressed toward one another, the paper will bend and take up anarched position. If now one of the edges be released, the paper will atonce tend to rapidly straighten out under the natural spring inherent initself.

According to this invention a self-feeding device for paper sheetsutilizes the natural spring of the paper when released from the archedposition taken up during its compression by forces acting in thedirection of feeding the sheets. In order to bring about this arching ofthe paper the frictional contact between the surface thereof and thesurface of a reciprocating body resting upon the sheet causes the oneedge of the sheet to move forward over a relatively fixed surface whilethe other edge abuts against a stop or keeper. This stop or keeper isperiodically lifted, when the paper thus released from its constrainedposition shoots forward into place on the drum or platen of the machine.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure.

1 is a front elevation of a duplicator constructed according to thisinvention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine viewed from theright, parts being broken away for clearness sake, Figs. 3 to 5represent details.

The self-feeding device consists of a crank shaft A journaled at A and Ain the end frame B and B and provided with cranks A and A extendingrotatably through links C and C pivoted to a transverse beam D at C andC said beam D being provided with arms D D from which project pins D, Dengaging in the vertical slots B of the end-frames B, B A cam D issecured to the crank shaft A in position to engage a roller D on the armD of the transverse beam D for elevating said beam D upon rotation ofthe crank shaft.

Depending from the transverse beam D are arms E, E E clamped to D at EE, E and supporting on pivots E links F, F F 2 provided with adjustingscrews F F, F 5 and bearing the friction blocks G, arranged to turnfreely on the pins G The crankshaft A is rotated by suitable gearingsuch as H H turned by a handle H through a disengaging clutch H At oneend of the crank-shaft A is fixed a cam K which engages with a roller Lthus acting upon the rod L (provided with a guiding slot L and pin L) inan upward direction against the action of the spring L and in turn uponthe lever M pivoted at M The lever M is provided with a slot forconnecting the lever to a crank rod M .to which is fixed a paper stop orkeeper N. The crank rod M has journals N which are rotatably mounted inbearings N in the side frames B, B

Beneath the drum or platen O of the machine is a roller P ofindie-rubber or other suitable material swinging on arms Q, Q} journaledat Q Q and normally drawn upward .by the spring R the tension of whichis adjustable at B The cam S fixed upon the drum shaft 0 (driven throughthe gearing H presses, against the action of the spring R, upon theroller T on the rod T controlled in its motion by the slot T throughwhich the shaft 0 passes and conlows :When self-feeding of the paper isdesired, the crank-shaft A is engaged with the gear-wheel H (fittedloosely on thecrank-shaft A) by means of the clutch H The handle H isturned and the shaft A follows the consequent motion of the wheel H thenby the movement of the arms 0, G on the crank-shaft, the transverse beamD is moved in a direction toward or from the drum 0. The beam D is notsupported on fixed points at both ends, but, guided in the verticalslots B is in a raised position during the forward motion and in alowered position during the return motion of the beam; hence thereciprocating blocks Gr held by the hanging arms E, E, E on the beamproceed to rub on the base U during the forward movement and are freefrom the base during the return motion, so that it will be seen thatpaper sheets placed on the base will be fed forward sheet by sheet. henthe blocks reach near the end of the forward motion, the cam K pushes upthe rod L, the pin L on which is guided by the slots L in the side framesimilarly to the transverse beam, and the lower end of which 7 isattached to the pivoted lever M. The

other end of the lever M is connected to the crank rod M carrying thepaper keeper or stop N and the sheets to be printed are pushed up tothis stop, while the uppermost of them is bent or arched by the rubbingmotion of the reciprocating blocks G, as shown at W in Fig. 2. A littlebefore the blocks leave the paper, the member N suddenly swung upward bythe agency of the cam K acting through the rod L, lever M andconnections M M ceases to restrain the edge of the paper, whereby thesheet rushes for ward and is caught between the drum 0 and the roller P.The roller P below the drum is supported by two arms Q, Q which arepivoted on the side frames at Q Q and pulled up by the vertical helicalspring B.

,One of the arms is connected to the vertical rod T which by the cam Son the durm shaft 0 acting on the roller T is pressed downintermittently, bringing the roller P to bear against or causing it tomove away from the drum.

When self-feeding action is not required, the connection between thewheel H and the drum 0 is disengaged by the clutch H and the transversebeam N is raised, so that the machine may be operated in the usualmanner.

Suitable adjustments are provided at various parts of the machine. Forinstance, the arms E, E E by slacking off the clamps E E, E may be movedalong the transverse beam D so that the distribution of the rubbingaction of the blocks G may be varied with varying sizes of paper used inthe machine. Another adjustment is indicated for the links F, F Fwhereby by screwing in or out the screws F F F the blocks Gr may beraised or lowered in relation to the arms E, E E The tension of thespring R and hence the pressure of the roller P upon the drum 0 is alsoconveniently varied by turning the adjusting screw R What I claim as myinvention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a self-feedingdevice for printing machines, the combination of a frame provided withslots, a crank shaft rotatably supported in the frame, a beam, armsextending from the beam and carrying pins engaging said slots,connecting rods for actuating the beam from the crank shaft, a supportfor a sheet pile, a stop operated from the crank shaft for alternatelyholding and releasing one edge of the sheet pile, and means actuated bysaid beam for forcing the sheet-s against the stop, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a self-feeding device for printing machines, the combination of aframe provided with slots, a crank shaft rotatably supported in theframe, a beam, arms extending from the beam and carrying pins engagingsaid slots, connecting rods for actuating the beam from the crank shaft,a support for a sheet pile, a crank rod journaled in the frame andcarrying a stop for alternately engaging and releasing one edge of thesheet pile, means actuated by said beam for forcing the top sheet of thepile against the stop, levers pivoted to the frame and slotted at oneend for receiving the cranks of the crank rod, slotted rods guided bypins fixed to the frame and pivotally connected to the free ends of thelevers, springs for holding the rods in their normal positions, rollerscarried by the rods, and cams fixed to the crank shaft for engaging saidrollers to actuate the rods and release said edge of the sheet pile,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES HAROLD HASTINGS.

Witnesses:

C. B. BERNARD, L. C. SHARMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

